But then, the rapping starts.
I watch her face completely transform, her attention narrowing in on the lyrics completely. Her free hand starts to move with the rhythm as she gets into a flow.
The rest of the group gets quiet, making me flick my eyes briefly to see them all just as entranced with her as I am.
Since when can she do this?
She glances back at me, the smile growing a little more on her face as she leans into it, gaining confidence as she gets further into it.
She stops when the verse ends and goes into the chorus, the room going silent before the boys start to applaud, Scarlett’s face flushing red.
Gigi turns to me, eyes wide. “Levi, why didn’t you tell us that your trainer was multi-talented?”
I put my hands up in surrender. “I didn’t know, I swear.”
Hudson, sitting beside us, leans over and ruffles Scarlett’s hair playfully. “That was incredible, Quinn. I’m impressed.”
She shrugs, feigning nonchalance, “I love rap music,” then turns back to her marshmallow, lifting it from the flame. Leaning over to grab the crackers and the chocolate, she puts it together and takes a bite, the sticky marshmallow coating her lips.
Impulse takes over, I thread my fingers through her hair and press my lips to hers, tasting the sweetness. She gasps and I drink in the sound.
I hear a faint cough, causing me to pull away from Scarlett. I look around to see all of the group wearing confused looks, though I notice a small smile pulling at Gigi’s lips.
I arch an eyebrow back in challenge, making them shrug and turn back to whatever conversations they were having before.
I glance at Scarlett, pulling my marshmallow off the flame and making up my own s’more. “I’m not sure what I prefer the taste of. You or these.”
Her eyes widen, cheeks flushing crimson. Her eyes flick around to see if anyone was paying attention – they’re not.
“Levi!” She uses a hushed tone, “You can’t say things like that in front of people.”
I shrug my shoulders, not really giving a fuck anymore. And I especially don’t care if anyone realises how much I’m starting to like this girl, how comfortable I find myself around her.
She shakes her head at me before starting to roast a new marshmallow and turning back to the group.
“Do you guys start training when you get back to Seattle?”
Steele nods, sighing. “We start pre-season training in two weeks. Coach wants us to get back and get settled before we start up, you know?”
Scarlett nods slowly. “That makes sense. Hopefully we’ll have him back with you guys sooner rather than later.”
A small smile crosses Steele’s face. “That would be the dream.”
I can’t wait to get back on the ice with the boys, but a part of me has grown attached to my life out here with Scarlett. I’m not ready to give it up any sooner than I have to.
CHAPTER THIRTY-EIGHT
SCARLETT
We’ve just seen off the group, and the house suddenly feels so silent. Though, maybe that’s not such a bad thing to get Levi ready to head back home, but we’ll miss them, nonetheless.
Hearing Levi moving about in the kitchen, I follow the sound, ready to figure out some kind of routine for the rest of our trip.
I find Levi cleaning the kitchen from breakfast this morning when he hears me enter, glancing up to meet my eyes for a second before going back to what he was doing.
I move toward him, wrapping my arms around his waist which makes him spin to face me. I tilt my head back to look up at him, my chin resting on his chest. “We finally have the house to ourselves.”
Levi’s lips pull up into a small smirk. “Finally.” He repeats, before leaning down to press a gentle kiss on my forehead, making my heart skip a beat.
